Worldwatch Institute researchers contribute to leading global study on renewable energy development

Renewable energy technologies set new installation records as their contribution to the global energy mix continued to climb in 2013. Renewable power capacity jumped more than 8 percent in 2013, accounting for over 56 percent of net additions and now has the potential to account for over a fifth of world electricity generation. These are some of the findings of the latest edition of the annual Renewables Global Status Report, released by the Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). The report is the product of a collaborative effort of an international network of more than 500 contributors, researchers, and authors.

“Renewable energy technologies have entered the mainstream,” says Worldwatch Institute Senior Fellow Janet Sawin, the report’s research director and lead author. “As awareness of the potential of renewables spreads around the world, and as these technologies continue to advance and prices fall, this impressive growth could further accelerate.”

Several renewable energy technologies registered strong showings in 2013. At least 39 gigawatts (GW) of new solar PV capacity was added worldwide throughout the year. Wind energy continues to be a strong global force despite a decrease from 2012, primarily due to a slowdown in the American market. More than 35 GW of wind power capacity was added in 2013, with wind alone now meeting 20 to more than 30 percent of annual electricity demand in countries such as Spain and Denmark. In addition to power generation technologies, heating and cooling from renewable sources such as modern biomass, solar, and geothermal account for a gradually rising share of final global heat demand, amounting to an estimated 10 percent.

“Solar PV had an extraordinary year, and the sector’s performance is an indication of exciting things to come,” says Sawin. “Even though global investment in solar PV was down 22 percent in 2013 in dollar terms, new capacity installations reached a record high, up more than 32 percent over 2012, an effect of dramatic cost reductions over the past few years.”

The renewable energy sector’s rapid growth is being led increasingly by developing and emerging nations. The 95 developing countries that have support policies in place for renewables today comprise the majority of the 138 countries with such policies around the world. In 2005, only 15 developing countries had renewable support policies, indicating a more-than sixfold increase in just eight years. The rise of support in the developing world contrasts with declining support and policy uncertainty in some industrialized economies, including several European countries and the United States.

“The global policy landscape remains dynamic,” says Evan Musolino, Worldwatch research associate and co-author of the report’s policy chapter. “In addition to these new national policies, support at the sub-national level is playing a critical role in countries such as Canada, India, and the United States. In many places, municipal governments have emerged as some of the most active and ambitious drivers of renewable energy growth.”

REN21’s 2014 report notes that policy mechanisms continue to evolve. New policies advanced or managed the integration of high shares of renewable electricity into existing power systems, including through support for energy storage, demand-side management, and smart grid technologies.

This slate of robust policies coupled with continuing technological advances, falling prices, and innovations in financing have made renewables more affordable for a broader range of consumers worldwide. Showcasing the increasingly crucial role that renewables can play in national development—including in expanding energy access—the Renewables 2014 Global Status Report will be launched on June 4th at the Sustainable Energy for All Forum at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

“Renewables are one of the most important tools in this century for social, economic, and environmental progress,” says Alexander Ochs, director of climate and energy at Worldwatch. “The paradigm that being dirty is good for the green in your pocket is eroding. This report demonstrates that we can overcome the political barriers and vested interests still in the way of a smarter, safer, and healthier world.”

The Renewables Global Status Report is the world’s most frequently referenced report on the renewable energy market, industry, and policy developments. The 2014 edition is available publicly at www.ren21.net/gsr.

Additional highlights of the report include:

Renewable energy provided an estimated 19 percent of global final energy consumption in 2012, with modern renewables accounting for 10 percent and the remaining 9 percent coming from traditional biomass.

Renewables accounted for more than 56 percent of net additions to global power capacity in 2013. These new additions saw non-hydropower renewables collectively grow nearly 17 percent to an estimated 560 GW.

China, the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Germany, respectively, remained the top countries for total installed renewable power capacity. In China, new renewable power capacity surpassed new fossil fuel and nuclear capacity for the first time. Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Austria, respectively, led all countries in per capita renewable power capacity installed as of end-2013.

Global new investment in renewable power and fuels was at least $249.4 billion in 2013, while investments in non-hydro renewables were down 14 percent relative to 2012 and 23 percent lower than the record level in 2011. The decline was due to sharp reductions in technology costs, particularly for solar PV, but also policy uncertainty in the United States and parts of Europe.

Renewables are increasingly a driver of economic growth, accounting for an estimated 6.5 million direct or indirect jobs in 2013.

Growing numbers of cities, states, and regions seek to transition to 100 percent renewable energy in either individual sectors or economy-wide. For example, Djibouti, Scotland, and the small-island state of Tuvalu all aim to derive 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Many individual municipalities and regions have already achieved economy wide or sectoral 100% renewable energy targets.

----END----

Notes to Editors:
For more information and to schedule interviews with Evan Musolinoplease contact emusolino@worldwatch.org.

About the Worldwatch Institute:
Worldwatch is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute’s State of the World report is published annually in more than a dozen languages. For more information, visit www.worldwatch.org.

About REN21:
REN21 is the global renewable energy policy multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors from governments, international organizations, industry associations, science and academia, as well as civil society to facilitate knowledge exchange, policy development and joint action towards a rapid global transition to renewable energy. REN21 promotes renewable energy to meet the needs of both industrialized and developing countries that are driven by climate change, energy security, development and poverty alleviation. For more information, visit www.ren21.net.